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When Ilima-Lei Macfarlane made history to become Bellator’s first ever flyweight female champion in late 2017 she had already pledged to give away her win bonus.

Hailing from Hawaii, Macfarlane comes from the same school that Barack Obama attended. She is 29, unbeaten in nine professional fights and the shining star on Bellator’s growing female roster.

But before she discovered MMA, Macfarlane was studying to be a teacher, just as her father had been. Though MMA took over, it did not stop Macfarlane’s drive to be a mentor for young people, in particular the world’s indigenous female population.

‘While I might not be teaching in a classroom, I’m still teaching using this different kind of platform,’ Macfarlane told Metro.co.uk ahead of her title defence this weekend in San Jose at Bellator 220.

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane v Letourneau (Picture: Bellator)

‘I’ve been a mentor for this program called InterTribal Youth. It’s an indigenous education program for native youths. I just started out as a mentor.’

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‘I attended an international program with them,’ she continued. ‘It was a cultural exchange in Panama. While I was out there I was talking with the president and found Marc Chavez.

‘We were visiting a tribe out in the jungle. The chief’s daughter always wanted to go out and do one of InterTribal Youth’s program in San Diego, but they could never afford it. I asked how much it cost and I said if I ever won the Bellator belt, I would fly her out so she could attend the program.

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane Bellator champion (Picture: Bellator)

‘And that’s where the scholarship started. After I won the belt, I did it.’

Called the ‘The Ilimanator Scholarship’ after her nickname, Macfarlane donated $4000 to create two scholarships and asked her sponsors to match it. They did, and this year there will be seven scholarships available from the fund. Macfarlane has been sifting through applicants during fight week.

‘I don’t like to get too inside my head before a fight,’ Macfarlane explains. She was surprised MMA could be a tool for good works, but Macfarlane spotted an opportunity to make a difference after seeing how kids looked up to fighters.

‘Even though I didn’t have that rough upbringing that many of them have or have that inter-generational violence or have alcoholic parents, they still do see a part of them in me,’ she said.

‘The whole reason why I wanted to do this was for young native girls. Statistically, out of any demographic, native women and girls face the highest rates on violence.

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‘There’s a big movement going on right now called the “missing and murdered Indigenous women movement”. It’s an epidemic, especially up in North America, Canada and in the States.

‘All of these indigenous women have gone missing and nothing has been done about it – government, media, police – you rarely hear about this at all. It’s a massive epidemic which is only now getting some traction.’

‘I want to tell their stories, so they look up to me,’ Macfarlane added. ‘It’s been an incredible journey.

‘I want these girls to know they don’t have to be another statistic or part of the norm, you can break down barriers and kick in doors. You can be successful, strong and confident, just like the boys.’

Macfarlane defends her title against Arteaga (Picture: Bellator)

As for her fighting career, Macfarlane is back in action as the co-main event at Bellator 220. Veta Arteaga, 5-2, steps in as the third challenger in her reign. The fight comes four months after Macfarlane brought Bellator to Hawaii for the first time. She submitted veteran fighter and former UFC title challenger Valerie Letourneau in the third round.

The win was by far the biggest her career, but Macfarlane is determined to keep grounded as champion.

‘I might be a rare breed, but I go into every one of my fights thinking that I’m going to lose. I’m going to get knocked out in the first round,’ Macfarlane said.

Hailing from Hawaii, Macfarlane is undefeated (Picture: Bellator)

‘I actually think that Veta is going to give me an even harder time than Valerie did. Maybe I shouldn’t say that, but Veta has nothing to lose. She reminds me of a cage animal.

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‘She’s never backed down from a challenge. She doesn’t let the bright lights, the fact she’s co-headlining a huge card or that she’s fighting the champion bother her.